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Japan Weekend Barcelona 2026: a weekend when Japanese pop culture takes over the city
Last weekend, Fira Barcelona – Gran Via was transformed into a small parallel universe with Japan Weekend Barcelona. From early in the morning, long queues foreshadowed what awaited inside: two intense days when anime, manga and Japanese pop culture took over every corner of the venue.
The event once again brought together tens of thousands of attendees, confirming its importance within the national calendar. In recent editions it has exceeded 47,000 visitors and brought together more than 200 exhibitors, figures reflected in the packed pavilions and the constant flow of people between stages, stands and themed areas.
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
The atmosphere was a blend of fair, festival and meeting point. In one area, the controls of consoles and arcade machines could be heard; in another, martial arts displays caught the public’s attention; further on, stages pulsed with K-pop performances that turned the space into an improvised dance floor.
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
Cosplay was once again one of the event’s great driving forces. Not only because of the competition, where the technical level and staging were surprising, but because of the constant presence of characters walking among the public. Meticulously crafted details, performances and a fully committed community. The free costume repair area worked as a small emergency headquarters that never stopped receiving visitors.
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
Photo by Dana Akulova @barcelona.photographer
Added to all this were international guests, signings, meet-ups and spaces dedicated to independent artists, which brought new voices and perspectives.